In a resolute effort to combat the pervasive issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), the Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), custodians of the Ireti Resource Centre, collaborated with the Canada Fund For Local Initiative (CFLI) to host a transformative stakeholders’ dialogue on Wednesday.
The event, held in Egbe-Idimu, Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA), brought together esteemed and significant persons committed to changing public opinion in the area.
Bose Ironsi, WRAHP’s Executive Director, stressed the significance of violence against girls and women, including sexual assault, harassment, domestic, verbal, emotional, and gender-based violence. She raised a global issue, noting WHO estimates that one in every three women had suffered physical and/or sexual assault in their lives.
Alimosho, she said, bears a disproportionate cost, notably in terms of domestic violence. Ironsi, citing statistics from the Attorney General of Lagos State and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, indicated that Alimosho had the greatest number of recorded instances, both for adults and children, between September 2021 and July 2022.
WRAHP, with assistance from the CFLI, established an initiative to prevent SGBV and improve survivors’ access to excellent medical and psychological support services. Ironsi emphasized the effectiveness of developing the ability of 30 Community Ambassadors/Champions from various community structures.
The stakeholders’ conversation, an important part of their approach, aimed to educate 60 traditional rulers and opinion leaders in Alimosho LGA about the Lagos State GBV Law. The goal is to create effective law-enforcement measures for Alimosho’s six Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The exchanges and question-and-answer session between the eight panelists and other attendees were the event’s high point.
Addressing journalists, Oba Kolawole Ajani Egundupe, the Olu of Ipaja land, praised the effort and expressed his delight of the event. He promised to convey the message back to his kingdom, stressing zero tolerance for abuses like as domestic violence and sexual and gender-based assault.
As the meeting finished, the commitment of many stakeholders, including law enforcement, government agencies, private groups, and community leaders, represented a positive step forward in the collaborative fight to eliminate SGBV in Alimosho LGA.
WRAHP, in conjunction with the CFLI, stays committed in its aim to fight SGBV, demonstrating a unified front against social difficulties.